A year ago, Freddy Adu was left off the USA's World Cup roster and then found himself without a club team.

“It was the lowest point. … everything fell apart and I didn’t have a team," said Adu. "I had a couple of trials and they weren’t looking for a player like myself and it was basically tough. When you are down like that it is up to you to either crumble or force your way back. Some people find a way to work their way back and some crumble -- I had a lot of support from family and friends, it was difficult but I got myself in the right frame of mind. You always have to have hope."

Adu landed with Turkish second division club Rizespor, earned regular playing time, and was re-called by U.S. national team coach Bob Bradley for the first time since 2009 this summer. He came on as a late sub in the USA's Gold Cup semifinal against Panama on Wednesday, sparked several attacks, and helped set up the winning goal.

“I think he has matured, when you see a player go to the second division in Turkey to keep things going in his career, that tells you something,” Bradley said. “You can tell that when he got a chance in this camp, he appreciated it. It shows he has matured in the way he acts and trains. He didn’t start out this camp great, but you could see over time he was getting better and better."

I've been very critical of Bob Bradley, but I will give him credit for finally bringing this immensely talented player back to the team. Freddy Adu has shown that he has abilities beyond anything we have seen the US, but he was labeled a flop because coaches (both here and Europe) that choose to focus on the very ordinary things he doesn't do on the field rather than the extraordinary things that he can do on the field.
It's the type of thinking that makes one believe that Messi or Ronaldinho would have not become professional players had they come through the US Soccer system where the coaching philosophy clearly prefers for hard-working, simple players over less predictable super-talents Adu or the very professional and talented, Jose Francisco Torres. A player also ignored by Bradley.
Hopefully, Adu's performance will give him a fair shot at the next World Cup team and I hope Bradley makes another good decision and gives Torres another look.

I still find it easy to be critical of bob bradley. WHY IN THE HECK DOES HE EVEN PLAY KLJESTAN? Count how many turnovers that moron had in the first half. It is rediculous. Why not start Adu considering the U.S. has struggled to find creativity. Adu brought instant offense and was very poised and calm on the ball. His long ball made that goal happen, not to mention a brilliant ball from Donovan.
BB has no idea what he is doing. He changes his lineup so much it's not even funny. You are telling me because your starting striker goes down that you have to change you entire formation? That's juvinile coaching.